Michael Cooper vs. Luka Doncic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Luka Doncic and Michael Cooper, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats Rankings

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Michael Cooper played 12 years in the NBA, 4 more than Luka Doncic, who played 8. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Luka Doncic had his rookie season in 2018-19. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90
Luka Doncic 8 5 2018-19 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1978-792018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 3 2.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 2.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+69+29.9+19.2+1.2+6.6+7.8+6.0+0.8+0.3-3.1-1.6+6.0+14.5+.073+4.8+6.7
Luka Doncic 72 32.2 21.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 6.0 1.1 0.3 3.4 1.9 7.0 16.5 .427 2.3 7.1 .327 4.8 6.7 .713
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Michael Cooper nor Luka Doncic played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1979-802019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 82 24.1 8.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.7 2.6 3.7 7.0 .524 0.1 0.2 .250 1.4 1.7 .776
difference:+21+9.5+20.0+0.1+6.5+6.6+6.1+0.3-2.6-0.1+5.8+13.6+.061+2.7+8.7+.066+5.6+7.5+.018
Luka Doncic 61 33.6 28.8 1.3 8.1 9.4 8.8 1.0 0.2 4.3 2.5 9.5 20.6 .463 2.8 8.9 .316 7.0 9.2 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 16 29.0 9.1 1.8 1.9 3.7 3.6 1.5 0.7 1.8 3.4 3.6 8.8 .407 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .861
difference:+10+6.8+21.9+1.1+7.3+6.1+5.1+0.3+0.2-3.4-0.6+7.1+12.5+.093+2.7+7.2+.364+5.1+8.4+.205
Luka Doncic 6 35.8 31.0 0.7 9.2 9.8 8.7 1.2 0.5 5.2 2.8 10.7 21.3 .500 2.7 7.3 .364 7.0 10.7 .656

Season 3

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1980-812020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 81 32.4 9.4 1.5 2.7 4.1 4.1 1.6 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.0 8.1 .491 0.0 0.2 .211 1.4 1.8 .785
difference:+15+1.9+18.3+0.7+4.5+3.9+4.5+0.6+0.5-2.3-0.8+5.8+12.4+.012+2.9+8.1+.139+3.8+5.3+.055
Luka Doncic 66 34.3 27.7 0.8 7.2 8.0 8.6 1.0 0.5 4.3 2.3 9.8 20.5 .479 2.9 8.3 .350 5.2 7.1 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 3 34.0 10.7 0.7 2.7 3.3 2.3 2.0 0.0 2.3 2.3 3.7 6.7 .550 0.0 1.0 .000 3.3 4.7 .714
difference:+4+6.1+25.0+0.1+4.6+4.6+8.0+0.7+0.4-2.3-0.1+10.0+21.3+.060+4.4+9.9+.408+0.6+2.6+.185
Luka Doncic 7 40.1 35.7 0.6 7.3 7.9 10.3 1.3 0.4 4.6 2.4 13.7 28.0 .490 4.4 10.9 .408 3.9 7.3 .529

Season 4

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1981-822021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 76 28.9 11.9 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.0 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 5.0 9.8 .517 0.0 0.2 .118 1.8 2.3 .813
difference:+11+6.5+16.5+0.2+5.9+5.6+5.7+0.4+0.2-2.5-0.6+4.9+11.8+.060+3.1+8.6+.235+3.8+5.2+.069
Luka Doncic 65 35.4 28.4 0.9 8.3 9.1 8.7 1.2 0.6 4.5 2.2 9.9 21.6 .457 3.1 8.8 .353 5.6 7.5 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 14 27.4 11.9 1.4 3.0 4.4 4.4 1.7 0.8 2.1 3.4 5.0 8.9 .565 0.1 0.1 .500 1.8 2.4 .735
difference:+1+9.4+19.8+0.7+6.1+5.4+2.0+0.1+0.2-1.8-0.5+5.7+14.6+.110+3.3+9.8+.155+5.1+6.6+.035
Luka Doncic 15 36.8 31.7 0.7 9.1 9.8 6.4 1.8 0.6 3.9 2.9 10.7 23.5 .455 3.4 9.9 .345 6.9 9.0 .770

Season 5

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1982-832022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 82 26.2 7.8 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.8 1.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 3.2 6.1 .535 0.1 0.3 .238 1.2 1.6 .785
difference:+16+10.0+24.6+0.2+5.5+5.3+4.2+0.1-2.0+7.7+15.9+.039+2.7+7.9+.104+6.6+8.9+.043
Luka Doncic 66 36.2 32.4 0.8 7.8 8.6 8.0 1.4 0.5 3.6 2.5 10.9 22.0 .496 2.8 8.2 .342 7.8 10.5 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 15 30.2 9.4 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.3 3.6 3.5 7.6 .465 0.1 0.5 .143 2.3 2.7 .829
Luka Doncic DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1983-842023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 82 29.1 9.0 0.6 2.5 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.8 1.8 3.3 3.3 6.7 .497 0.5 1.5 .314 1.9 2.3 .838
difference:+12+8.4+24.9+0.2+5.9+6.0+3.9+0.3-2.2-1.2+8.2+16.9+.010+3.6+9.1+.068+4.9+6.4+.052
Luka Doncic 70 37.5 33.9 0.8 8.4 9.2 9.8 1.4 0.5 4.0 2.1 11.5 23.6 .487 4.1 10.6 .382 6.8 8.7 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 21 34.4 11.3 1.0 3.0 3.9 5.7 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.8 4.2 9.1 .461 0.6 1.7 .333 2.4 3.0 .806
difference:+1+6.5+17.6+0.3+5.7+5.6+2.4+0.8+0.6-2.7-1.3+6.0+13.8+.015+2.5+7.9+.011+2.9+4.0+.041
Luka Doncic 22 40.9 28.9 0.7 8.7 9.5 8.1 1.9 0.4 4.1 2.5 10.2 22.9 .446 3.1 9.6 .322 5.3 7.0 .765

Season 7

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1984-852024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 82 26.7 8.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 1.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.4 7.2 .465 0.4 1.5 .285 1.4 1.6 .865
difference:+32+8.7+19.6+0.1+5.0+5.1+2.5+0.7+0.2-1.7+5.8+13.3+.015+3.1+8.1+.083+4.8+6.3+.083
Luka Doncic 50 35.4 28.2 0.8 7.4 8.2 7.7 1.8 0.4 3.6 2.5 9.2 20.5 .450 3.5 9.6 .368 6.2 7.9 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 19 26.4 10.4 0.6 3.4 4.0 4.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.7 6.6 .563 0.4 1.4 .308 2.5 2.7 .923
difference:+14+15.2+19.8+0.2+3.2+3.0+0.9+0.1+0.1-2.1-0.8+5.7+14.2+.111+2.8+7.8+.040+5.7+6.5+.032
Luka Doncic 5 41.6 30.2 0.4 6.6 7.0 5.8 1.0 0.6 4.0 3.2 9.4 20.8 .452 3.2 9.2 .348 8.2 9.2 .891

Season 8

Michael Cooper Luka Doncic
Season 1985-862025-26
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 82 27.7 9.2 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.7 1.1 0.5 1.8 2.9 3.3 7.4 .452 0.8 2.0 .387 1.8 2.1 .865
difference:+79+10.6+36.1+0.2+8.6+8.7+2.0+0.4+0.2-1.9-0.2+11.7+18.3+.132+3.5+10.3+.036+9.2+11.9+.079
Luka Doncic 3 38.3 45.3 0.7 11.0 11.7 7.7 0.7 0.3 3.7 2.7 15.0 25.7 .584 4.3 12.3 .351 11.0 14.0 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper 14 30.1 9.7 1.1 2.1 3.3 4.9 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 8.2 .470 1.4 2.9 .463 0.6 0.8 .818
Luka Doncic DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Michael Cooper played 4 seasons more than Luka Doncic in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 12, from 1987 to 1990—Michael Cooper played in 4 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 4 extra years over Luka Doncic, Michael Cooper got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 Defensive Player of the Year